Tom Tresser is a consultant, producer, educator and organizer works with individuals, companies and communities to use their creative assets in order to solve problems, create economic value and trigger civic engagement. He recently designed and produced training programs for the provincial government of Saskatchewan on how to use the arts and creativity for local economic development. He has used creativity in the field of executive development, working with Fortune 500 companies on innovative and experiential strategic executive learning programs. During the Internet boom Tom served as a marketing director and community affairs manager for OurHouse.com, an e-commerce start-up. He was director of cultural development at Peoples Housing, in north Rogers Park, Chicago, where he created a community arts program that blended the arts, education and micro-enterprise. Tom has acted in some 40 shows and produced over 100 plays, special events, festivals and community programs. He was an arts activist, having organized support for pro-arts candidates and developed a cultural policy think tank at Roosevelt University in the early 1990's, where he taught "Arts & Public Policy." In 2003 he was appointed Visiting Fellow in Arts and Culture at the DePaul University College of Commerce's Ryan Center for Creativity and Innovation. Tom was elected to the Abraham Lincoln Elementary School's Local School Council and served from 2004 to 2006. He is serving on the Executive Committee for the 43rd Ward Independent Democratic Ward organization and was a founder of Protect Our Parks, an effort to stop the privatization of public space in Chicago. He has taught workshops on "The Artist as Leader," and "The Politics of Creativity – A Call To Service" for arts service organizations across the country. He is teaching a number of classes on art, creativity and civic engagement for the School of the Art Institute and DePaul University. Tom also consults with arts organizations on strategic planning, audience development and peer-to-peer marketing. Tom published "America Needs You!" – about the need for artists to get involved in politics.

Blog Entries by Tom Tresser

Lessons Learned From the Olympic Fiasco

Posted October 19, 2009 | 03:34 PM (EST)


As readers of the Huffington Post know, I was one of the lead organizers for No Games Chicago.

It’s been two weeks since the decision in Copenhagen by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) to deny Chicago the 2016 Olympic games.

I was one member of the No Games...

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What Happened in Copenhagen (When We Went to Influence the IOC -- Again)

10 Comments | Posted October 12, 2009 | 12:16 PM (EST)


[ Note -- I was one of the three No Games Chicago delegates who traveled to Copenhagen last week to deliver materials and messages to the members of the International Olympic Committee (IOC)]

We left Chicago late Monday night, Sept. 28. All that day the news was all about...

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Why We're in Copenhagen (Meeting the IOC, Again)

17 Comments | Posted September 29, 2009 | 12:08 PM (EST)


No Games Chicago has sent the same team who went to Switzerland In June to meet with the International Olympic Committee (IOC) in Copenhagen to do it again. I was one of the delegates who went to Lausanne and I'm part of the team...

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What Happened in Switzerland (When We Met the IOC)

2 Comments | Posted August 30, 2009 | 06:23 PM (EST)


(Note - This was written on the plan coming home from Geneva, June 19, 2009)

Friday, June 19, 1:20 p.m. local time, Geneva

Our plane has just taken off. The No Games Chicago delegation is safely aboard and we’re on our way home. After nine hours in...

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Why I'm in Switzerland (Trying to Meet the IOC)

40 Comments | Posted June 16, 2009 | 04:13 PM (EST)


I'm in Lausanne, Switzerland, seven time zones ahead of Chicago, with two other members of the No Games Chicago coalition. Our purpose is to meet with the International Olympic Committee (IOC) at their headquarters in order to explain why we believe Chicago should NOT be awarded the 2016...

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No Games Chicago Rallies April 2nd

Posted March 25, 2009 | 12:45 PM (EST)


No Games Chicago is a coalition of social justice activists from across the city who believe that seeking and hosting the 2016 Summer Olympic Games is a terrible waste of precious civic resources and treasure.

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This group includes people who have been...

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Where Do We Set the "Restore" System Date?

Posted February 10, 2009 | 01:50 PM (EST)


Many computer operating systems now allow you to regularly backup your programs and files. When you install a new program the operating system notes the new program and -- if the worst happens and your computer melts down -- allows you to "Restore" your computer to the point before the...

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"No Games Chicago" Hosts Olympic Sceptic At Public Forum

Posted January 30, 2009 | 03:36 PM (EST)


Chicagoans can look forward to massive city debt, destruction of public parks, insider deals favoring real estate developers and a full frontal assault on civil liberties if we are awarded the 2016 Olympic Games, according to an expert anti-Olympic organizer in town to speak at a rally set for January...

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Change Comes to Washington, Will it Come to Chicago?

Posted January 20, 2009 | 10:57 AM (EST)


On the eve of the inauguration of Barack Obama to be the 44th President of the United States, a group of citizens met in a theater in Uptown, Chicago to demand accountability from their government.

The city that gave the United States a leader who called for change...

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We're All Nonprofits Now

Posted December 22, 2008 | 04:00 PM (EST)


The White House has just announced plans for a $17.4 billion bail out of the auto industry. According to the Institute for Policy Studies, America and European governments have already chipped in an unbelievable $4.1 trillion in total financial bailouts. So what's another $17 or so billion added...

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"You Have No Standing": The Story of the Latin School Lincoln Park Land Grab

Posted September 9, 2008 | 03:17 PM (EST)


2008-09-07-BeforeAfter.jpg
On December 1, 2006 the Chicago Park District signed a contract with the Latin School of Chicago to build an artificial turf soccer facility in the heart of Lincoln Park. This was a deal negotiated...

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Connecting The Dots In Chicago

Posted August 17, 2008 | 06:29 PM (EST)


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"The Park District will only cover one third of local park improvements." That's what General Superintendent Tim Mitchell announced at the July meeting of the Chicago Park District. If a community wants a new park or add to an old park, it will...

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